Tag Archives: Gene Banks

BDN interviews former Duke hoops standout Gene “Tinkerbell” Banks

Gene Banks threw roses to the crowd during his last game against Carolina in Cameron
Gene Banks threw roses to the crowd during his last game against Carolina in Cameron

Gene "Tinkerbell" Banks  played for the nations top high school team in the Philadelphia and he may well have been Duke's first super hyped recruit.   The former "Speedboy," signed on the dotted line for then head coach Bill Foster and in his first season at Duke he helped the Devils to one of the most storied years in basketball history.  Banks came in with fellow freshman Kenny Dennard and the two of them joined Mike Gminski on the front line affectionately known as Duke Power Company.  After defeating Wake Forest for the ACC Tournament Championship, the Blue Devils wild ride finally ended in the national championship game to an experienced Kentucky team.  I caught up with Gene in the off season during the Coach K Academy and here is part one of that conversation -

Just press play -